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Question

I have had a stray cat living parttime in my yard for almost 2 years. As of Friday, he (or she, I can't get close enough to tell) has been walking on 3 legs. It looks to me as if the lower front leg is broken. If I call animal control, I'm sure that they will destroy the cat. I don't think I can manage to trap it, and even if I do, I don't know if I'll find a vet who'll treat it. I am absolutely sick about this. I can't let it suffer. What do I do?
Cheryl

Submitted: 127 days ago.
Category: Cat
Value: $35
Status: CLOSED
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I don't know gender or age. It is too skittish to let me get close. I would guess it to be a young adult. I am trying to get it to keep eating, and stay around here.

Accepted Answer

Hello,

 

This kitty is very lucky to have you!! You have several options open to you at this point. First, you can call around to vets in your area and see if they would be open to treating a potentially feral kitty with a possible broken leg....you will need to decide how far you want to go, because once trapped kitty will likely need to be completely sedated before he or she can be safely examined. If a fracture is found, are you willing to treat it surgically (if necessary)? Do you want to test this kitty for leukemia and aids, and euthanize if the tests come up positive? If you are willing to take some responsibility for this kitty and can find a vet that will help, you can try to humanely trap he or she in a have a heart trap, which is available at your local pet co or pet smart, or your local humane society may have the traps for rent. Don't feel that you need to put this kitty through surgery for a badly broken leg if it is beyond your financial means, and don't feel that you need to keep this kitty alive with a serious viral infection (like leukemia or aids) no matter what. Sometimes humane euthanasia is the lesser of all evils, and sometimes it can be avoided.

 

While you are probably correct in assuming that animal control will euthanize this kitty, there may be organizations in your area that can help. However, the final result might be the same if the kitty is too badly injured to be put back in the wild. You can check out the following organization, alley cat allies, and they may be able to help with this kitty.

 

www.alleycat.org

 

Please let me know if I can be of further assistance. If this has been helpful, please hit the green accept button. Best of luck with your little foundling, I hope things work out :)

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Expert: ERAnimalNurse
Pos. Feedback: 99.4 %
Accepts: 
Answered: 7/20/2009

Emergency Critical Care Nurse

16+ years of veterinary experience

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